Birmingham conference to address the future of Further Education

UNIVERSITY NEWSLAST UPDATED : 22 JUNE 2016

The future of Further Education and the challenges facing the sector will be up for discussion at an upcoming conference taking place at Birmingham City University next week (Wednesday 29 June).

The one-day conference entitled ‘Reimagining Further Education’ will explore a number of key themes, from apprenticeships and work-based learning, to accountability and governance in FE, and will bring together practitioners, researchers and key figures from within the sector.

Key speakers include David Russell, CEO of the Education & Training Foundation; Sir Frank McLoughlin CBE, Principal of City and Islington College and Chair of CAVTL and Professor Paul Hager, University of Technology Sydney.

Dr Matt O’Leary, Reader in Education at Birmingham City University’s Centre for Studies in Practices and Cultures in Education (CSPACE), said:

The ethos of 'Reimagining Further Education' is rooted in a genuine desire to move away from top-down decision-making. Instead, we are seeking to embrace an inclusive, participatory model of discussion and decision making by capturing the voices and interests that represent the sector.

Critical analysis of government policy is undoubtedly important and even more so in an era of austerity that has witnessed unprecedented cuts to FE funding, but one of the aims of the conference is to extend that thinking and analysis further. In assembling a range of professionals across the sector in problem-solving groups, we hope to tackle some of these problems head on.

‘Reimagining Further Education’ takes place at Birmingham City University's Curzon Building on Wednesday 29 June. The conference is sponsored by the Association Of Teachers & Lecturers, University and College Union and The Education & Training Foundation.